Sealing closure for swimming pool skimmer

Abstract

A sealing closure assembly for closing off a skimmer opening for a swimming pool includes a closure faceplate and a cover removably connectable to the closure faceplate. The closure faceplate has a sidewall surrounding a central opening, a flange protruding from the sidewall to overlap a peripheral area of the skimmer opening, and a lip protruding from the flange and extending around an inner perimeter of the flange. The cover includes a cover plate with a sealing gasket fitted around an outer perimeter of the closure faceplate, a wedge plate member for engaging an inside sidewall of the sealing gasket, and a closure member for exerting a force between the cover plate and the wedge plate to pull the cover plate and wedge plate together between a locked and unlocked position. In the locked position, an outer sidewall of the sealing gasket engages the flange (1) proximate to the sidewall of the closure faceplate, (2) at the lip of the flange, and (3) by wrapping around a terminal edge of the flange.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sealing closure assembly for closing a skimmer opening of a swimming pool skimmer, the sealing closure assembly comprising:
 a closure faceplate having an integral sidewall with a central opening shaped to surround the skimmer opening; 
 a cover element configured for being removably connected to the closure faceplate, the cover element comprising:
 a cover plate having a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a plurality of openings extending between the top surface and the bottom surface around an outer periphery of the cover plate; and 
 a sealing gasket extending around the outer periphery of the cover plate, 
 
 wherein at least a portion of the sealing gasket extends through at least one of the plurality of openings on the cover plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The sealing closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing gasket has a peripheral recess for receiving a peripheral lip of the closure faceplate when the cover element is connected to the closure faceplate. 
     
     
       3. The sealing closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure faceplate has a peripheral lip extending around an outer periphery of the closure faceplate. 
     
     
       4. The sealing closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure faceplate has a flange that overlaps a peripheral area of the skimmer opening. 
     
     
       5. The sealing closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure faceplate is made from an ABS plastic resin. 
     
     
       6. The sealing closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing gasket is made from a thermoplastic elastomer material. 
     
     
       7. The sealing closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing gasket is molded over the cover plate. 
     
     
       8. The sealing closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing gasket is monolithically formed with the cover plate. 
     
     
       9. A cover element for closing a skimmer opening of a swimming pool skimmer, the cover element comprising:
 a cover plate having a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a plurality of openings extending between the top surface and the bottom surface around an outer periphery of the cover plate; and 
 a sealing gasket monolithically formed around the outer periphery of the cover plate, 
 wherein at least a portion of the sealing gasket extends through at least one of the plurality of openings on the cover plate. 
 
     
     
       10. The cover element of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing gasket has a peripheral recess for receiving a peripheral lip of a closure faceplate when the cover element is connected to the closure faceplate. 
     
     
       11. The cover element of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing gasket is monolithically formed with the cover plate.